Historic London Drag Venue The Black Cap Reopens After 11 Years

The Black Cap, one of London's oldest gay bars known as the 'Palladium of Drag,' has reopened after 11 years, restoring its legacy as a hub for drag and cabaret with a £2m investment and community support.

Historic Gay Bar The Black Cap Reopens in Camden

One of London's longest-standing gay bars, The Black Cap in Camden, has reopened after being closed for 11 years. Known as the "Palladium of Drag," the venue has hosted cabaret and drag performances since the 1950s.

Watford/Mirrorpix/Getty A black and white photo of drag queen Shane performing downstairs at The Black Cap. She is stood on the stage on the right, wearing a strapless dress, hair up in a chignon, and in the background is the audience. She is holding a wired mike and the spotlight is shining on her. — 'Shane' performing at The Black Cap

Alex Green, a regular patron since the 1980s, played a key role in organising a weekly vigil outside the venue following its closure. He emphasises the venue's significance as a cherished space with a unique history that warranted preservation.

"It was 2015, and we'd lost a whole series of gay bars and spaces from our community. This was just the final straw."

"These walls protected us before it was legal to be homosexual in 1967.

We don't have a lot of these places left."

A bald man in a dark coat beams at the camera. He is standing next to a framed piece of writing entitled — Alex Green from the #WeAreTheBlackCap campaign group says the respect the owners have shown while reviving the venue is "incredible"

Legacy of Drag Stars and Venue Features

The Black Cap was instrumental in launching the careers of prominent drag performers including Danny La Rue, Mrs Shufflewick, Regina Fong, and Paul O'Grady's alter ego Lily Savage, who regularly performed in the downstairs bar during the 1970s and 1980s. The venue now honours Lily Savage by naming the downstairs bar "Lily's Bar," featuring artefacts loaned by O'Grady's widower, Andre Portasio.

Long bar with tables and a stage at the end — Lily's Bar has been named in honour of Paul O'Grady's drag alter ego Lily Savage

Rafa Motycki, the pub's new general manager, expressed that the reopening serves as a tribute to Lily Savage and other influential artists. He highlighted the venue's role in supporting young people facing challenges.

"It's a tribute to her and all the wonderful and influential artists.

There are so many youngsters going through some rough times, and we just want to say, 'Hey, we got you'."

The upstairs bar has been renamed "Shufflewicks" in honour of Mrs Shufflewick, a regular performer in the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally, the iconic Regina Fong Terrace, described by owners as a suntrap, has been restored and will reopen.

Vixon Herts Three drag artists singing on stage. On the left is Regina, with a dark red wig on, wearing heavy black eyeliner, mascara and bright red lipstick, a frilled v-neckline top - the v neck is decorated with red ruffles. In the middle is Lucia, with red lipstick, a short curly bobbed hair and a blue strappy top, and Vixen has blonde bouffant hair, a white dress, diamond earrings and necklace and bright red lipstick. This is a head and shoulder shot. — Regina Fong, Lucia and Vixen Herts on stage at The Black Cap

Performers and Community Memories

Vixon Herts, who performed at The Black Cap during the 1980s and 1990s alongside Regina Fong and Sandra, reflected on the venue's importance.

"It was everything to me for 30 years.

I first visited when I was 15 - naughty I know, but I was just hooked... the atmosphere was wonderful and the sense of chosen family was so wonderful."

Other notable drag performers who have appeared at The Black Cap include Phil Starr, Hinge and Bracket, Dockyard Doris, and more recently, RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Baga Chipz.

Investment and Community Engagement

The venue's new owners, LT Management, have invested £2 million to restore The Black Cap to its former prominence. Alex Green from the #WeAreTheBlackCap campaign group praised the owners for their respect and responsiveness to the community's wishes.

"To see the respect the owners have given us and the community is incredible.

These guys have really listened to what we want."

The campaign group conducted surveys involving thousands of people, and the feedback influenced the venue's décor and the preservation of key features.

The Black Cap is scheduled to officially reopen on Saturday, with hopes that it will serve as a hub for live entertainment, drag, and cabaret.

Upcoming Acts and Cultural Significance

Among the performers confirmed for the reopening and subsequent months is Me The Drag Queen, who began his career at The Black Cap and will headline the opening night.

Drag queen in a wig sitting on the stage of the Black Cap pub where there is a purple light shining on her, she wears a one-shoulder dress/top with ostrich feathers decorating the diagonal line which gathers at one shoulder. Her hair is up and she has full make up, earrings on and tattoos on her upper shoulders. In the background is the stage and on the right, the wall with various framed photos on it. — Me The Drag Queen is one of the acts lined up to wow pubgoers

"I was here the night that it closed, dancing on the bar to Like a Prayer by Madonna before they kicked us out," he said.

"So to be back 11 years later and host the opening night feels very full circle."

Alex Green expressed his vision for The Black Cap's future.

"I want it to put on the best drag and be a schoolground and a place where people can come and learn their craft and be respected for it."

Context: Decline of LGBTQ+ Venues in London

The reopening of The Black Cap contrasts with a broader trend of closures affecting London's LGBTQ+ venues. According to the Greater London Authority, more than half of such venues have closed between 2006 and 2022, with numbers dropping from 125 to 50. Rising rents and changing social habits are cited as key factors.

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